The Church of Stop Shopping: Interview with Glenn Beck and Reverend Billy

The guys over at the Beating Debt Blog had an interesting post today with a clip from Reverend Billy from the “Church of Stop Shopping.” The goal of this church is to spread the good word of avoiding consumerism and spending less and giving more. They are coming out with a documentary called “What Would Jesus Buy?” I like the message. The delivery is something I don’t agree with, but find amusing nonetheless. Below is an interview that Reverend Billy had with Glenn Beck.

Although Reverend Billy has a great message in many ways, I think his approach appears to be more comical and all “for show.” Glenn Beck even asks him if he’s serious.

I browsed around on YouTube after I watched this, and found that Reverend Billy has been banned from Starbucks and arrested for barging into stores and protesting shopping. Personally, I feel that if one wants to “spread the word”, barging into stores and casting out demons from a cash register isn’t going to be effective.

That being said, this has an overall good message and it is worth watching. However, I get the feeling that it will be watched mainly for entertainment purposes and that this guy won’t be taken seriously. After all, when you visit his website he has links to buy his movie, donate to his church and also links to stores that carry his movie. I find it interesting that this guy has created a business around the idea of less spending but then asks you to spend money for him.

5 comments

Preachers sometimes open themselves up for an easy parody, and they are worthy of the mockery that comes their way–especially if they are con-men peddling their own “gospel.”

About the message, consider these questions:

1) Jesus did overturn the money makers that were there in the temple. Does that mean he was against any business or free enterprise? No. The temple was there for sacrifice and worship, not as a mall for temple businesses. That’s all.
2) Jesus bought what he needed. However, have you ever read of him haranguing anyone about buying anything? No. Notice that Jesus DID rebuke Judas who complained that expensive perfume had been poured out onto Jesus’ feet by the former prostitute–“it could have been sold!!” Scripture then reminds us that Judas himself was the eventual betrayer of Jesus and a thief.
3) Don’t you think that Jesus would rather look at Rev. Billy and walk away? People were already capitalizing on the faith: prayer phylacteries, prayer blankets, temple coins, animals for sacrifice…
Jesus’ own commentary about false teachers is appropriate:
such people have their rewards here and now. They are not to be followed. Go ahead and laugh at the antics (why not?) and maybe even curb your own spending habits (yes, that might be a good thing!);
But in your hearts consider where your real treasure lies:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Jesus, cited in the Gospel according to Matthew 6:19-21).

The real treasure is genuine faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, whose blood cleanses us of all sin; all who believe in him HAVE eternal life–now and always.
Blessings to you in Christ,
E. Zacharias